2,4-dienoic acids, esters and derivatives

ABSTRACT

Substituted aliphatic di-olefinic acids and esters, derivatives thereof, intermediates therefor, syntheses thereof, and the control of insects.

United States Patent Henrick et al.

[451 Sept. 9, 1975 1 2,4-DIENOIC ACIDS, ESTERS AND DERIVATIVES Inventors: Clive A. Henrick; John B. Siddall, both of Palo Alto, Calif.

Assignee: Zoecon Corporation, Palo Alto,

Calif.

Filed: June 19, 1972 Appl. No.: 263,903

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 224,261, Feb. 7, 1972, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 206,174, Dec. 8, 1971, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 187,897, Oct. 8, 1971, Pat. No. 3,755,411, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. Nos. 111,650, Feb. 1, 1971, Pat. No. 3,729,486, Ser. No. 111,702, Feb. 1, 1971, abandoned, Ser. No. 111,765, Feb. 1, 1971, abandoned, Ser. No. 111,766, Feb. 1, 1971, abandoned, Ser. No. 111,770, Feb. 1, 1971, abandoned, and Ser. No. 115,725, Feb. 16, 1971, Pat. No. 3,706,733.

52 us. c1. 260/410; 260/405; 260/408; 260/4105; 260/4106; 260/4109 R;

[51] Int. Cl. C07c 69/66; C07c 69/52; AO1n 9/24 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Wiley et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 79, 2266-2271 (1957). Pattenden et al., J. Chem. Soc. (C) pp. 1984-1989 (1968).

Primary Examiner-Donald G. Daus Assistant Examiner-Diana G. Rivers Attorney, Agent, or FirmDona1d W. Erickson [5 7] ABSTRACT Substituted aliphatic di-olefinic acids and esters, derivatives thereof, intermediates therefor, syntheses thereof, and the control of insects.

36 Claims, No Drawings 1 2,4-DIENOIC ACIDS, ESTERS AND DERIVATIVES This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 224,261, filed Feb. 7, 1972, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 206,174, 5

No. 111,650, filed Feb. 1, 1971, now US. Pat. No.

3,729,486, Ser. No. 111,702 filed Feb. 1, 1971, now abandoned, Ser. No. l 1 1,765, filed Feb. 1, 1971, now abandoned, Ser. No. 1 11,766, filed Feb. 1, 1971, now abandoned, Ser. No. 11 1,770, filed Feb. 1, 1971, now

abandoned, and Ser. No. 115,725, filed Feb. 16, 1971 15 now US. Pat. No. 3,706,733, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.

This invention relates to novel aliphatic di-olefinic compounds, aliphatic tri-olefinic compounds, intermediates therefor, syntheses thereof, and the control of insects. More particularly, the novel di-olefinic compounds of the present invention are represented by the following formula:

such as water, acetone, xylene, mineral or vegetable oils, talc, vermiculite, natural and synthetic resins and silica. Treatment of insects in accordance with the present invention is accomplished by spraying, dusting or exposing the insects to the vapor of the compounds of formula A. Generally, a concentration of less than of the active compound is. employed. The formulations can include insect attractants, emulsifying agents or wetting agents to assist in the application and effectiveness of the active ingredient. In the application of the compounds, there is generally employed a mixture of the C-2,3 trans and cis isomers.

1n the description hereinafter, each of RR R R Z, Z, In and n is as defined hereinabove, unless otherwise specified.

In another embodiment of' the present invention, there is provided compounds of the following formula B which are useful for the control of insects in the same manner as the diolefinic compounds of formula A and which also serve as precursors for the preparation of the compounds of formula A.

kynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, lower alkylthiaalkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, halogen substituted lower alkyl, heterocyclo or a metal cation and the acid halides thereof.

The compounds of formula A are useful for the con trol of insects. The utility of these compounds as insect control agents is believed to be attributable to their juvenile hormone activity. They are preferably applied to the immature insect, namely during the embryo, larvae or pupae stage in view of their effect on metamorphosis and otherwise cause abnormal development leading to death or inability to reproduce. These compounds are effective control agents for Hemipteran, such as Lygaedae, Miridae and Pyrrhocoridae; Lepidopteran, such as Pyralidae, Noctuidae and Gelechiidae; Coleopteran, such as Crysomelidae and Dermestidae; Dipteran, such as mosquitos, flies; Homopteran, such as aphids; and other insects. The compounds can be applied at low dosage levels of the order of0.001 ,u.g. to 25.0 pg. per insect. Suitable carrier substances include liquid or solid carriers,

Tenebrionidae,

serve as starting materials for the preparation of com- 40 pounds of formula A. The compounds of formula B can i be prepared according to the syntheses described below and the examples provided hereinafter.

One synthesis of esters of formula B can be outlined as follows:

R3 R14 R2 R l l l RC =C(CH- ,),,CH CH CH. .),,,-C=O (I) 1n the above formulas, R is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, benzyl or phenyl and R is lower alkoxy, cycloalkoxy or aralkoxy.

In the above synthesis, a carbonyl of formula I is reacted with a carbanion of formula II to yield an ester of formula B".

The carbanion (I1) is generated by treatment of the corresponding phosphonate with a base such as an alkali hydroxide, alkali hydride or alkali alkoxide, e.g. NaOH, NaH, sodium ethoxide or sodium methoxide, in an organic solvent inert to the reaction such as hydrocarbon, ether or dialkylsulfoxide solvent e.g., benzene,

A second synthesis of esters of formula B is outlined as follows:

(III) In the second synthesis outlined above ofI to III to B", a carbonyl of formula I is reacted with a carbanion of formula IIA using the conditions described above or with an ylid of formula IIB to yield an unsaturated ketone of formula III The unsaturated ketone (III) is then reacted with a carbanion of formula IIC to yield a compound of formula B or by Wittig reaction using the ylid (IID). 40

( C) (IID) Conversion of III into B using carbanion (IIC) can be done using the same conditions as for conversion of I into III. Wittig reactions are generally done at higher temperatures such as from room temperature to reflux. The ylids are prepared from the corresponding phos- 55 phonium bromide or chloride by treatment with a base substance such as an alkali metal hydride, alkali metal hydroxide or alkali metal carbonate in an organic solvent, such as toluene, benzene, or tetrahydrofuran, or water or aqueous organic solvent depending upon the particular base. The Wittig reagents can be prepared as described in US. Pat. No. 3,193,565.

A synthesis for esters of formula B which is applica- 65 ble when each of R and R is hydrogen is outlined as follows:

R is a metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium or magnesium.

In the third synthesis outlined above, an aldehyde of formula I' is reacted with an alkyne of formula IV to produce the alkynyl alcohol of formula IV. A compound of formula IV is then reacted with an orthoester in the presence of weak acid catalyst to yield an allenic ester of formula V which is rearranged to 2,4

diunsaturation by treatment with base such as described in copending application Ser. No. 111,768,

filed Feb. 1, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,716,565. Preparation of alkynyl alcohols is described by Kimel et al.,

J. Org. Chem. 22 161 1 (1957). The conversion of alky-- nyl alchohols to allenic esters is described by Crandall et al., Chem. Comm 1411 (1970).

Another synthesis of acids and esters of formula B involves base catalyzed condensation wherein an aldehyde such as an aldehyde of formula I is reacted with an ester of the formula in the presence of an inorganic. or organic base. Suitable bases include sodium amide, potassium amide, potassium hydroxide, and the like as described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,662,914 and 2,951,853. The novel acids produced by this method are then converted into the desired ester using conventional methods such as prep-' aration of the acid halide followed by reaction with an alcohol.

Another synthesis for acids and esters of formula B is the reaction of a ketone of formula III hereinabove with ketene to form the acid (B; R is hydrogen) which can be subjected to esterification prior to isolation of the acid, if desired, with and alcohol such as methanol, ethanol or isopropanol according to the ester moiety desired. In the practice of this synthesis, gaseous ketene is passed. through an excess of the ketone (III) containing a catalytic amount of an acid catlyst. The ketene can be diluted with an organic solvent inert to the reaction if desired. Suitable conditions and catalysts for the practice of this synthesis is described by Boese, J r., US. Pat. No. 2,382,464.

3,904,662 6 The esters of formula B and B are converted into f T l IR' the corresponding acid by hydrolysis with base such as RLC (RlgH) potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and the like in organic solvent such as metha- H nol or ethanol. Other esters of the present invention 5 can be prepared by transesterificatior'i or-conversion of the acid into the acid halide by treatment with'thionyl Ketones of formula X can be prepared according to chloride, oxalyl chloride, phosphorous pentabromide methods described in the literature. A general proceor the like, and then reacting the acid halide with the (lure for compounds of formula X, in which n is one, alcohol corresponding to the ester moiety desired. Acyl 10 two or three, can be outlined as follows (d) is phenyl fluorides (X is fluoro) are prepared by reacting the acyl d i t th e or f i Tu I )(bu P' CO"(CH2)M C /R. I113 f: =O R -C=C(CH c=o (X1) (2) l-I (X11) bromid or yl hlo id ith o l anhydrous h In the above process, a ketone of formula XI is reacted drogen fluoride under dry conditions and at low tem- With the phosphonium ylid in the presence Of alkyl lithperature such as about 5 for a few minutes, ium or phenyl lithium to yield the ketal Of XII, which is treated with aqueous acid to yield the carbonyl XII. Synthesis of aldehydes and ketones of formula I can The y is P p fwm the Chloride: be accomplished using methods known in the art. Many of the carbonyl precursors of formula I are commer cially available. The aldehydes of formula I can be prepared, for example, by oxidation, of the corresponding primary alcohol using chromic acid, manganese dioxide or the like.

Compounds of formula I wherein mis one, two or q three can be prepared utilizing carbonyl precursors as 5 outlined below:

, material, an aldehyde of formula I wherein m is one is In the practice of the above synthesis, a carbonyl of for? Suitable procedures for the preparation of the ylid and mula X is reacted with a lower alkoxymethyltriphenyl- Wittig reactions are described. by A W Johnson, Ylid phosphonium'halide such as methoxymethyltriphenyl- Chemistry," Academic Press Inc. New York (1966), phosphonium chloride in the presence of alkyllithium, U.S. Pat, Nos, 3,078,256 and 3,130,219, Canadian Pat. aryl lithium or the like followed by treatment with acid NO 834,191, and Chem Comm. 733, July 1969,

to afford an aldehyde of formula I wherein m is zero. 1 Suitable conditions for this reaction are described by Nelson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,562,336. By repeating this reaction using the thus-prepared aldehyde as the starting A general method for the preparation of precursors of formula I and XIII, particularly wherein n is zero or one, is the reaction of an allyl alcohol with an enol prepared. Aldehydesof formula I wherein m 18 two 3,493,619 and and three are prepared by simply repeating the forego- 3,574,715. A good review of the preparation of aldemg reaction using the appropriate precursor of formula I wherein m is one and two, respectively. 1 I hydcs pr y Burgstahler, q 28 Compounds f f l 1 wherein is lower alky (10), 2918 (1963); Johnson et al., J. Chem. 500., 520

can be prepared by reaction of an aldehyde of formula Naves, ch17" (P 94 (,3), 223 (1965)? I; with a Grignard R MgX(R" H) following by oxi' and Carnduff, Quart. Rev. (London 20 (2), 169

dation. 3 (1966).

ether. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,841,620; 2,849,49l;

Examples of carbonyl compounds included within formulas I and I useful for the preparation of com pounds of formula B are the following:

citronellal 3 ,7-dimethylnon-6-en-1-al 3-methyloct-6-enl-al 3-methyl-7-ethylnon-6-en- 1 al 3ethyl-7-methylnon-6-en- 1 al 3 ,7-diethylnon-6-en- 1 al 3 ,6,7-trimethyl oct-6-en- 1 al 3,6,7-trimethylnon-6-en-l-al 3,7,8-trimethylnon-6-en-l-al 3 ,7-dimethyldec-6-en- 1 al 3 ,7-dimethylundec-6-en- 1 al 2,4,5-trimethylhex-4-en- 1 al 2,4,5-trimethylhept-4-en- 1 al 3 ,5 ,6-trimethylhept-5 en- 1 al 3,5,6-trimethyloct-5-en-l-al 3 ,6-dimethylhept-5-enl-al 3 ,6-dimethyloct-5-en- 1 al 2,6-dimethylhept-5-enl-al 2,4,6-trimethylhept-5-en- 1 al 2,6-dimethyloct-5-en- 1 al 4,7,8-trimethylnon-7-en-l-al 3,8-dimethylnon-7-en-l-al 4,8-dimethyldec-7-en- 1 al 3,8-dimethylnon7-en- 1 al 3,8-dimethyldec-7-en-l-al 3,7,8-trimethyldec-7-en-l-al 4,9-dimethyldec-8-en-l-al 3,9-dimethyldec-,8-en-lal 2,9-dimethyldec-8-en-l-al The compounds of formula A wherein Z is hydrogen and Z is halo can be prepared by treating a compound of formula B with hydrogen halide in carbon tetrachloride or other halogenated hydrocarbon solvents of low dielectric constant. The compounds of formula A wherein Z is halo can be prepared by treating a compound of formula 8 with bromine, chlorine or fluorine in a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent.

The compounds of formula A wherein Z is hydrogen and Z is the group OR in which R is hydrogen can be prepared by the addition of water to the terminal olefinic bond of a compound of formula B using a mercuric salt followed by reduction of the oxymercurial intermidiate in situ. Suitable mercuric salts include mercuric acetate, mercuric nitrite, mercuric trifluoroacetate, mercuric acylates and mercuric halides. Suitable reducing agents include the borohydrides, hydrazine and sodium amalgam. See Brown and Rei, J. Am. Chem Soc. 91, 5646 (1969); Brown et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 89, 1522 and 1524 (1967); and Wakabayashi, J. Med. Chem. 12, 191 (January, 1969). By conducting the reaction in the presence of an alcohol (R--OH) such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, cyclopentanol, and the like, the corresponding ether is prepared. The compounds of formula A wherein Z is --OR in which R is carboxylic acyl and Z is hydrogen can be prepared from a compound of formula A wherein Z is OH and Z is hydrogen by reactionwith a carboxylic acid chloride or bromide or carboxylic acid anhydride in pyridine or by treatment'with a carboxylic acid anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate. The reaction is generally conducted at about room temperature to reflux temperature for about 1 to 48 hours, shorter reaction time being favored by temperatures above room temperature.

In another embodiment of the present invention, compounds of formula A are prepared by first introducing the substituents Z and Z on a carbonyl of formula I or III and thereafter perform introduction of the group CO- R The substituents Z and Zare introduced using the procedures described above to prepare the substituted carbonyl XIII.

which is reacted with the carbanion IIA or ylid IIB to prepare the unsaturated ketone (XIV) (XIV) Reaction of a compound of formula XIV with a carbanion of formula IIC or an ylid of formula IID provides esters of formula XV n RH 2 ltl 12 RI which serve as precursors for preparation of other compounds of formula A such as the acids, acid halides, and other esters, using procedures described herein for the preparation of compounds of formula B.

Esters of formula XV can be prepared also by reaction of a carbanion of formula II with a carbonyl of formula XIII.

In addition to the methods described herein above for preparation of the precursors of formula XIII, the procedure of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,902,495 and 3,060,237 and French Pat. No. 1,403,943. (CA 63: 16394) can be used.

The term cycloalkyl, as used herein, refers to a cyclic alkyl group to three to eight carbon atoms. The term aralkyl" refers to a monovalent hydrocarbon group in which an aryl group is substituted for a hydrogen atom of an alkyl group, such as benzyl, xylyl, mesityl, phenylethyl, methylbenzyl, naphthylmethyl and naphthylethyl containing up to twelve carbon atoms. The term aryl," as used herein, refers to an aromatic group of up to 12 carbon atoms. Typical aromatic groups include phenyl, naphthyl, lower alkylphenyl such as methylphenyl, ethylphenyl, t-butylphenyl and isopropylphenyl, lower alkylthiophenyl such as methylthiophenyl, ethylthiophenyl and isopropylthiophenyl, lower alkoxyphenyl such as methoxyphenyl and ethoxyphenyl, halophenyl such as chlorophenyl, bromophenyl, iodophenyl and fluorophenyl, nitrophenyl, methylenedioxyphenyl, lower alkenylphenyl such as vinylphenyl and allylphenyl, phenylketones such as acetophenone, benzoic esters such as lower alkyl benzoate and benzamides such as N-lower alkyl benzamide and N.N-di (lower alkyl) benzamide. In the case of substituted phenyl, the substituent such as lower alkyl, lower alkythio, lower alkoxy, halo, nitro, lower al kenyl, carbonyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, and amido can be in one or more positions of the phenyl ring, usually in the para position. The term heterocyclic," as used herein, refers to a heterocyclic group consisting of four or five carbon atoms and one heteroatom which is oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur such as the heterocyclics pyridine, pyran, thiophan, pyrole, furan and thiophen.

The term hydroxyalky1," as used herein, refers to an alkyl group substituted with one hydroxy group, e.g. hydroxymethyl, p-hydroxyethyl and 4-hydroxypentyl. The term alkoxyalkyl, as used herein, refers to an alkyl group substituted with one alkoxy group, e.g. methoxymethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, 4-ethoxybutyl, npropoxyethyl and t-butoxyethyl. The term alkenyl, as used herein, refers to an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon group, branched or straight chain, having a chain length of two to 12 carbon atoms, e.g. allyl, vinyl, 3-butenyl, Z-hexenyl and i-propenyl. Whenever any of the foregoing terms are modified by the word lower, the chain length of the group is not more than six carbon atoms with the exception of lower alkoxyalkyl and lower alkylthiaalkyl in which event a total chain length of 12 carbon atoms is the maximum. The term halogen substituted lower alkyl, as used herein refers to a lower alkyl group substituted with one to three halogen atoms such as chloromethyl, fluoromethyl, 1,1,l-trifluoroethyl, 2,2,2trichloroethyl, and the like.

The term carboxylic acyl," as used herein, refers to the acyl group of a carboxylic acid, anhydride or halide. The acyl group is determined by the particular carboxylic acid halide or carboxylic acid anhydride employed in the esterification. Although no upper limitation need be placed on the number of carbon atoms contained in the acyl group within the scope of the present invention, generally it contains from one to 18 carbon atoms. Typical esters of the present invention include formate, acetate, propionate, enanthate, benzoate, trimethylacetate, trichloroacetete, trifluoroacetate, t-butylacetete, phenoxyacetete, cyclopentylpropionate, aminoacetete, fichloropropionate, adamantoate, octadec-9-enoate, dichloroacetate, butyrate, pentanoate, hexanoate, phenylacetate, prnethylbenzoate, ,B-phenylpropionate, 3,4-dimethylbenzoate, pisopropylbenzoate, cyclohexylacetate, stearate, methacrylate, p-chloromethylbenzoate, pmethoxybenzoate and p-nitrobenzoate.

The term metal, as used herein, refers to lithium sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, copper, manganese and zinc. The term alkyl refers to a branched or straight chain, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon of one to 12 carbon atoms. The term lower alkyl refers to an alkyl group having a chain length of one to six carbon atoms. The term lower alkynyl refers to a mono- -acetylcnically unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon hav ing a chain length of three to six carbons.

In addition to the compounds of the present invention having activity useful for the control of insects, the compounds of formula A and B have numerous other useful applications. For example, the esters of formula A of the present invention are useful lubricants and plasticizers for polymers, such as SBR. polybutadiene, ethylene-propylene copolymers and polypropylene and aid in the processing and application of polymers.

The presence of an olefinic bond at position C-2 and C-4 of the compound of formula A gives rise to four isomers, each of which is embraced by the present invention. The presence of three olefinic bonds in compounds of formula B give rise to eight isomers, each of which is embraced by the present invention. As mentioned above, a mixture of isomers is suitably employed for the control of insects such as a mixture containing the trans (2), trans (4) isomer and the cis (2 trans (4) isomer. The conditions of the syntheses described herein and the reactants can be selected so as to favor formation of one isomer such as the all trans isomer over the formation of other isomers. The selection of appropriate conditions and reactants to favor formation of one isomer over another will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art giving due consideration to the specific examples hereinafter. See also Pattenden and Weedon, supra and Corey et al., supra. In the specific examples hereinafter, when isomerism is not specified, it is understood to include a mixture of isomers which, if desired, can be separated using known separation methods. Hereafter, when only one designation of configuration is given, the designation refers to position C-2,3 and the configuration is taken to be trans at position C-4,5 when not otherwise specified. The use oftrans/cis" and cis/trans is with reference to position C-2,3 and indicates a mixture of isomers.

The following examples are provided to illustrate the practice of the present invention. Temperature is given in degrees Centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 To a mixture of 1 g. of 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-l-al 1.5 g. ofphosphonate (II; R is ethyl, R is methyl, R is ethoxy, R is hydrogen) and 50 ml. of dimethylformamide, under nitrogen, is slowly added sodium ethoxide (prepared from 200 mg. of sodium and 12 ml. of ehtanol). The mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature for l hour and then is worked up with ether. The ethereal extracts are dried, concentrated and then chromatographed on silica plates eluting with hexane/ether to yield ethyl 3,7,1 I-trimethyldodeca-2,4, l O- trienoate which is predominantly trans at position C-2,3 and C-4,5.

By using diethyl 3-methoxycarbonyl-Z-methylprop-2- enyl phosphonate and sodium methoxide, there is prepared methyl 3,7,1 ltrimethyldodeca2,4,IO-trienoate.

EXAMPLE 2 The process of Example 1 is repeated using each of the aldehydes under column I as the starting material to yield the respective ester under column 11 3 7-dimethylnon-6-enl-al 3-ethyl-7-methylnon-6-en- 1 -al 3,7-diethylnon-6-en- 1 -al 4,8-dimethylnon'7-en- 1 -al 3 ,6-dimethylhept-5-en- I -al 3 ,6dimethy1oct-5-enl-al 2,6-dimethylhept-5-en- 1 -al ethyl 3,7,1l-trimethyltrideca-2,4,lO-trienoate ethyl 3,1 1-dimethyl-7-ethyltrideca-2,4, l (l-trienoate ethyl 7,1 l-diethyl-3-methyltrideca 2,4,l0-trienoate ethyl 3,8, l2-triemthyltrideca-2,4,l l-trienoate ethyl 3,7,10-trimethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,7,10-trimethyldodeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,6,10-trimethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate EXAMPLE 3 A mixture of 1 g. of trans/cis methyl 3,7,11- trimethyldodeca-2,4,lO-trienoate, 60 ml. of methanol, 0.5 g. of potassium hydroxide and 6 ml. of water is heated at reflux for about 8 hours. The mixture is then diluted with water, neutralized and extracted with ether. The organic phase is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to yield trans/cis 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4, lO-trienoic acid.

Using the foregoing procedure, the other esters of Example 2 are hydrolyzed to produce the respective free acids under column 111.

Ill

3 ,7,1 1 -trimethyltrideca-2,4- l O-trienoic acid 3,1 l-dimethyl-7-ethyltrideca-2,4, l O-trienoic acid 7,1 l-diethyl-3-methyltrideca-2,4, 1 O-trienoic acid 3 ,8, l 2-trimethyltrideca-2,4,l l-trienoic acid 3,7, l -trimethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoic acid 3 .7, l 0-trimethyld0deca-2,4,9-trienoic acid 3,6,10-trimethylundeca-Z,4,9-trienoic acid EXAMPLE 4 One gram of thionyl chloride is added with stirring at room temperature to 0.5 g. of trans/cis 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2.4, l O-trienoic acid and the mixture heated at about 50 for 10 minutes. Excess thionyl chloride is removed by evaporation and then t-butyl alcohol (about 2 equivalents) is added and the mixture heated at about 50 for about 5 minutes to yield t-butyl 3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4, l O-trienoate (trans/cis).

By using other alcohols in place of t-butyl alcohol in the process of this Example, such as cyclohexyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, n-pentanol, nhexanol, or n-propanol, the respective esters are prepared, i.e.,

cyclohexyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4, 1 O-trienoate isopropyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4, IO-trienoate benzyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4, l O-trienoate n-pentyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4,10-trienoate n-hexyl 3 ,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4, l O-trienoate n-propyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4, lO-trienoate EXAMPLE 5 To a solution of 0.5 g. of trans/cis 3,7,l1-trimethyldodeca-2,4,lO-trienoic acid in ml. of benzene is added with stirring an equivalent amount of potassium bicarbonate. The mixture is stirred until the evolution of carbon dioxide ceases and then evaporated to yield potassium 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4, lO-trienoate.

Alternatively, acid salts can be prepared by titrating the acid with an organic solution or aqueous organic solution of the desired metal.

EXAMPLE 6 One gram of 3,7,1l-trimethyltrideca-2,4,lO-trienoic acid in 30 ml. of benzene and 1 mol of sodium hydride is stirred about 2 hours and then a slight excess of oxalyl chloride is added at about 0 and stirred for 1 hour. The product is worked up by removal of solvent in vacuo and extraction with pentane to yield 3,7,1 1- trimethyltrideca-2,4, l O-trienoyl chloride.

EXAMPLE 7 A. To magnesium propynylide 15 g.) in 150 ml. of ether is slowly added 0.3 moles of 3,7-dimethyloct-6- en-l-al and the mixture then stirred overnight. Saturated aqueous ammonium chloride is added and the layers separated. The organic phase, combined with ether backwashings of aqueous phase, is washed with water, dried and solvent evaporated to yield 6,10- dimethyl-9-undecen2-yn-4-ol which can be purified by chromatography.

B. A mixture of 18.5 g. of the alkynyl alcohol of part A, g. of triethylorthoacetate and 0.7 g. of propionic acid is refluxed under a spinning band column to remove ethanol as it is formed. After the elimination of ethanol is about complete, the crude reaction product is distilled under vacuum to yield ethyl 3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-3,4,IO-trienoate. Alternatively. the crude reaction product is purified by chromotography on silica.

C. A solution of 1.0 g. of the allenic ester of part B in 20 ml. of ethanol is treated with 4 ml. of aqueous 2N sodium hydroxide and left at room temperature for several minutes. The mixture is then poured into pentane and washed with saturated brine and separated. Evaporation of the organic phase yields ethyl 3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4, l O-trienoate.

EXAMPLE 8 The process of Example 7, part A, is repeated using each of the aldehydes under column 1 as the starting material to yield the respective alkynyl alcohol under column IV, each of which is reacted with triethylorthoacetate using the process of Example 7, part B, to prepare the respective allenic ester under column V.

6,10-dimethyl-Q-dodecen-2-yn-4-ol 6-methyl-10-ethyl-9-dodecen-2-yn-4-ol 6,10-diethyl-9-dodecen-2-yn-4-ol 7,1 1 -dimethyl- 10-dodecen-2-yn-4-ol 6,9-dimethyl-8-decen-2-yn-4-ol 6,9-dimethyl-8-undecen-2-yn-4-ol 5 ,9-dimethyl-8-decen-2-yn-4-ol ethyl 3,7, 1 1-trimethyltrideca-3,4, 1 O-trienoate ethyl 3,1 1-dimethyl-7-ethyltrideca-3 ,4, l O-trienoate ethyl 3-methyl-7, l l-diethyltrideca-3,4, l O-trienoate ethyl 3,8, l 2-trimethyltrideca-3,4,l l-trienoate ethyl 3 ,7, l O-trimethylundeca-3 ,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3 ,7, l O-trimethyldodeca-3 ,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,6, l0-trimethylundeca-3,4,9-trienoate Using the process of Example 7, part C, each of the allenic esters under column V is rearranged by treatment with aqueous sodium hydroxide to produce the respective a, ,B-unsaturated ester.

EXAMPLE 9 To 126 mg. of a 57% dispersion of sodium hydride in oil is added pentane. The pentane is removed and the sodium hydride washed several times with pentane. To the washed sodium hydride is added 582 mg. of diethyl acetyl-methylphosphonate (11A; R is ethyl, R is methyl, R is hydrogen) in 5 ml. of tetrahydrofuran at 10 under argon. After several minutes, the solution is transferred to a solution of 425 mg. of 3,7-dimethyloct-o-en-l-al in about 4 ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran under argon over a period of about 20 minutes at room temperature. After about 2 hours, water is added followed by addition of ether and the layers separated. The organic layer is washed with saturated sodium chloride, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield 6,10-dimethylundeca- 3,9-dien-2-one.

EXAMPLE 10 One gram of triphenylphosphineacetylmethylene and 425 mg. of 3,7-dimethylnon-6-en-l-al are dissolved in 10 ml. toluene and refluxed under nitrogen overnight. The toluene is distilled off and the formed triphenylphosphine oxide crystallized by addition of pentane. Filtration and evaporation of the pentane gives a residue, which is further purified by preparative thin layer chromatography to yield 6,10-dimethylddeca-3,9- dien-Z-one.

EXAMPLE 1 l 41 Grams of 3,7-dimethyloct- 6-en-l-al and 80 g. of recrystallized (ethyl acetate) triphenylphosphineacetyl-methylene [Ramirez et al., J. Org. Chem. 22, 41 (1957) l are refluxed in 1 liter of dry toluene for 18 hours, under nitrogen. Most of the solvent is removed in vacuo, 500 ml. pentane is added and the mixture filtered. The flask and the triphenylphosphine oxide filter cake are washed several times with pentane. The filtrate is concentrated under vacuum to yield 6,10- dimethylundeca-3,9-dien-2-one.

EXAMPLE 12 Using the process of either of Example 9, or 11, each of the aldehydes under column I is converted into the respective di-unsaturated ketone under column V1.

6, l0-dimethyldodeca-3 ,9dien-2-one o-methyll 0ethyldodeca-3 ,9-dien-2-one 6, l O-diethyldodeca-3,9'dien-2-one 7,1 ldimethyldodeca-3,10-dien-2-one 6,9-dimethyldeca-3,8-dien-2-one 6,9-dimethy1undeca-3,8-dien-2-one 5,9-dimethyldeca-3,8-dien-2-0ne EXAMPLE 13 The carbanion of diethyl carbomethoxymethyl phosphonate is reacted with 6,10-dimethylundeca-3,9-dien- 2-one and each of the ketones under column VI using the procedure of either Example 1 or 9 to prepare the respective methyl esters under column VII.

VII

methyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4, l O-trienoate methyl 3 ,7,1 1-trimethyltrideca-2,4, l O-trienoate methyl 3,1 l-dimethyl-7-ethyltrideca-2,4,10-

trienoate I methyl 3-methyl-7,l l-diethyltrideca-2,4,lO-

trienoate methyl 3,8,12-trimethy1trideca-2,4,l l-trienoate methyl 3,7,10-trimethylundca-Z,4,9-trienoate methyl 3 ,7, 1 O-trimethyldodeca-Z,4,9-trienoate methyl 3,6,1U-trimethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate EXAMPLE l4 Anhydrous hydrogen chloride is bubbled into 100 ml.

of dry carbon tetrachloride at. 0 until six equivalent is taken up. Five grams of trans ethyl 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4,10trienoate is added and the resulting mixture allowed to stand for about 48 hours at 0. The mixture is evaporated under reduced pressure to yield trans ethyl 1 l-chloro-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate which is purified by chromatography.

The above process is repeated using each of the unsaturated esters under Column 11 to prepare the respective compound under Column VIII.

VIII

ethyl l 1-ch1oro-3 ,7.,1 1-trimethyltrideca-2,4-

dienoate,

ethyl 1 l-chloro-3 ,1 l-dimethyl-7-ethyltrideca-2,4-

dienoate,

ethyl 1 1-chloro-7,l 1-diethyl-3-methyltrideca-2,4-

dienoate,

ethyl 12-chloro-3 ,8 ,12-trimethy1trideca-2,4-

dienoate,

ethyl lO-chloro-3 ,7, l O-trimethylundeca-2,4-

dienoate,

ethyl lO-chloro-3,7,10-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate, and

ethyl 10-chloro-3 ,6,10-trimethylundeca-2,4-

dienoate.

Each of the esters under col. VII is used as the starting material in the process of this example to prepare the hydrochlorides under col. IX.

trienoate, cyclohexyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4,10- trienoate and n-hexyl 3,7,10-trimethylundeca-2,4,9- trienoate is used as the starting material in the procedure of Example 14 to prepare the respective compound, that is benzyl 1 1-chloro-3 ,7,1 l-trimethyltrideca-2,4-

dienoate,

isopropyl l l-chloro-3,7,1 1trimethyld0deca-2,4-

dienoate,

cyclohexyl 1 l-chloro-3,7,.l l-trimethyldodeca2,4-

dienoate, and n-hexyl 10-chloro-3 ,7 ,10

trimethylundeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 16 One gram of trans ethyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4, l O-trienoate is added to a solution of 1 equiv. of dry hydrogenfluoride in dry tetrahydrofuran. The mixture is allowed to stand at for hours and is then washed with water,,dried and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield trans ethyl 1 1-fluoro-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate which can be purified by chromatogrphy.

EXAMPLE 17 The process of Example 14 is repeated with the exception of using dry hydrogen bromide in place of hydrogen chloride to yield trans ethyl 1 lbromo3,7,l 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

By treating the 1 l-bromide with anhydrous silver fluoride in acetonitrile under reflux conditions for about 6 hours. there is prepared trans ethyl 1 1-fluoro-3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 18 Chlorine gas is bubbled into 200 ml. of carbon tetrachloride at 0 until one equivalent is taken up. Twentyfive grams of trans ethyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4,1 O-trienoate is added and the mixture is then stirred and then allowed to stand at about 0 for 24 hours. The

mixture is then evaporated to yield trans ethyl 10,1 1- dich1oro-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate which can be purified by chromatography.

EXAMPLE 19 To a mixture of 5 g. of trans ethyl 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4,l0-trienoate in 100 ml. of fluorotrichloromethane is slowly added 1 equiv. of dry fluorine in about one hour at about 78. After stirring the mixture at this temperature for about 16 hours, the resultant mixture is evaporated and chromatographed on silica to yield trans ethyl 10,1 l-difluoro-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-Z,4-dienoate.

By using bromine in the process of Example 18 there is prepared trans ethyl 10,1 l-dibromo-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dien0ate.

EXAMPLE 20 To a mixture of 1.9 g. of mercuric acetate, 6 ml. of water and 20 ml. of tetrahydrofuran is added 1.49 g. of trans ethyl 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2.4,l0-trienoate slowly. After addition is complete, the reaction mixture is stirred for about 20 minutes. The mixture is cooled to about 0 and 6 ml. of aqueous sodium hydroxide (3 molar) is added followed by 049 g. of sodium borohydride in aqueous sodium hydroxide (about 3 molar). The mixture is stirred for about minutes. The mixture is then decanted, concentrated, diluted with water and then extracted with ether. The ethereal extract is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate and the product chromatographed on silica gives ethyl 1 1- hydroxy-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4,-dienoate (trans).

The above process is repeated using each of the unsaturated esters under Column 11 to prepare the respective compound under Column X.

ethyl 1 l-hydroxy-3 ,7,1 1-trimethyltrideca-2.4-

dienoate,

ethyl l 1-hydroxy-3,l 1-dimethy1-7-ethyltrideca-2,4

dienoate,

ethyl 1 1-hydroxy-7,1 1-diethy1-3-mcthyltrideca-2,4-

dienoate.

ethyl 12-hydroxy-3,8, l 2-trimethyltrideca-2,4-

dienoate,

ethyl dienoate,

ethyl 10-hydroxy-3 ,7, l 0-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate, and

ethyl 10-hydroxy-3 ,6,10-trimethylundeca-2,4-

dienoate.

10-hydroxy-3 ,7, l O-trimethylundeca-2,4-

EXAMPLE 21 Each of the esters under Column VII is used as the starting material in the process of Example 20 to prepare the respective hydroxyl under Column X1:

trienoate, cyclohexyl 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4,l0- trienoate and n-hexyl 3,7,10-trimethylundeca-2,4,9- trienoate is used as the starting material in the process of Example 20 to prepare the respective hydroxy, that benzyl 1 l-hydroxy-3,7,l l-trimethyltrideca-2,4-

dienoate,

isopropyl 1 1-hydroxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate,

cyclohexyl 1 1 -hydroxy-3,7, 1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate, and

n-hexyl 10-hydroxy-3 ,7, 1 O-trimethylundeca-2,4-

dienoate.

EXAMPLE 23 To a solution of 2 g. of trans ethyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4, lO-trienoate in 20 ml. of ethanol, cooled to 0 in an ice bath, is added a suspension of 2.32 g. of mercuric acetate in 50 m1. of ethanol over 15 minutes. The reaction mixture is stirred for 2 hours and then, with cooling, 1.22 g. of potassium hydroxide in 20 ml. of ethanol is added. Then 0.139 g. of sodium borohydride is added in small portions and stirring continued for 30 minutes. The solution is decanted, then concentrated to half volume, diluted with ml. of water and extracted with ether (3 X 50). The ethereal phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate and the crude product chromatographed on silica using hcxanetether to yield trans ethyl l l-cthoxy-3,7,l 1- trimcthyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 24 A mixture of 1 g. of trans ethyl 1l-hydroxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 10 ml. of acetic anhydride and 0.5 g. of dry sodium acetate is refluxed for about hours. After cooling, excess anhydride is removed by vacuum and the residue extracted with ether. The ethereal extract is washed, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated to yield the corresponding acetate, trans ethyl 1 l-acetoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 25 A mixture of 2 g. of dry trans ethyl ll-hydroxy- 3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 15 ml. of acetyl chloride and 20 ml. of dry pyridine under nitrogen is heated on a steam bath for about 6 hours. After cooling, the mixture is concentrated under vacuum and the residue taken up in ether. The ethereal extract is washed, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated to yield the corresponding acetate, trans ethyl ll acetoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

The process of this example is repeated with the exception of using triethylamine in place of pyridine to yield the 1 l-acetate.

EXAMPLE 26 One gram of trans ethyl 1 l-hydroxy-3,7,1ltrimethyldodeca-Z,4-dienoate in ml. of diglyme is added dropwise to a slurry of l g. of sodium hydride in 10 ml. of diglyme under nitrogen. To this mixture is added 0.9 g. of cyclohexylchloride. The reaction mixture is stirred at about 25 for 30 minutes and then quenched in ice water. The organic phase is separated and aqueous phase re-extracted with ether. The organic materials are washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to yield the cyclohexyl ether of trans ethyl l l-hydroxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca 2,4-dienoate.

By using each of benzyl chloride and cyclopentyl chloride in the foregoing procedure, the corresponding benzyl ether and cyclopentyl ether is prepared.

EXAMPLE 27 By use of the procedure of Example 25, ethyl l1- hydroxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate is converted into the corresponding ll-chloroacetate, l1- dichloroacetate and l l-trichloroacetate using chloroacetyl chloride, dichloroacetyl chloride and trichloroacetyl chloride, respectively. 1 i

The respective l l-trifluoracetate. propionate, nbutanoate, n-pentanoate and n-hexanoate esters of ethyl l l-hydroxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4dienoate are prepared according to the process of Example 24 using trifluoroacetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, n-butyric anhydride, n-pentanioc anhydride and n hexanoic anhydride or according to the process of Example 25 using the corresponding acid chloride.

EXAMPLE 28 A mixture of 20 ml. of dry formic acid and 2 g. of trans ethyl 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4,lO-trienoate is heated at 50 for 2 hours and then poured onto ice cold potassium bicarbonate solution. The reaction is worked up by extraction with ether, washing the ethereal extract, drying over magnesium sulfate and evaporation to yield the formate of trans ethyl 1 l-hydroxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

Using the above process, the formates of formula A are prepared from the corresponding precursor of for- 5 mula B having a terminal olefinic bond.

EXAMPLE 29 Fifteen grams of mercuric acetate in 50 ml. of dry ethanol is added to 12 g. of trans ethyl 3,7,1 1-

1O trimethyldodeca-2,4,lO-trienoate in 30 ml. of dry ethanol cooled in an ice bath. The temperature is allowed to come to room temperature by standing overnight.

Then the mixture is cooled to 0, 10 g. of potassium hydroxide in 150 ml. of ethanol is added followed by addition of 1.0 g. of sodium borohydride in small portions.

After about 30 minutes at 0, water is added and mixture left at room temperature for 2 hours. The mixture is filtered, filtrate concentrated and extracted with ether. The ethereal extract is washed, dried, and evaporated to yield trans ethyl ll-ethoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate which is purified by distillation or chromatography.

By using methanol in the foregoing process in place of ethanol, there is prepared the respective ll-methyl ether. In the same way, each of isopropanol, t-butanol,

and n-propanol is added to the terminal double bond to prepare:

ethyl l l-isopropoxy-3,7.,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate, ethyl 1 l-t-butoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate, and ethyl 1 l-n-propoxy-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate EXAMPLE 30 Each of the tri-unsaturated esters under col. VII is used as the starting material in the process of Example 21 or 29 to yield the respective ethoxy substituted compound under col. XI].

A mixture of 1 g. of trans methyl 1l-ethoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, ml. of methanol. 0.5 g. of potassium hydroxide and 6 ml. of water is heated at reflux for about 8 hours. The mixture is then diluted with water, neutralized and extracted with ether. The organic phase is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to yield trans 1 l-ethoxy-3,7,l 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid.

EXAMPLE 32 Using each of the esters under Column 11 as the starting material in the process of either Example 22 or 29, there is prepared the respective substituted ester under Column Xlll.

EXAMPLE 33 A. To a mixture of 50 g. of 7methoxy-3,7- dimethyloctan-l-al, 75 g. of diethyl 3-ethoxycarbonyl- 2-methylprop-2-enyl phosphonate (49% trans), and 500 ml. of dimethylformamide, under nitrogen, at and with stirring. is slowly added 9 g. of sodium in 250 ml. of ethanol. After addition is complete, the reaction is allowed to continue 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction is worked up with hexane, filtered through Florisil and filtrate evaporated to yield trans( 2), trans(4) and cis(2), trans(4) ethyl l 1-methoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate (about 60% trans, trans).

B. A mixture of 45 g. of the ethyl ester of part A, 350 ml. of ethanol, 100 ml. of water and 70 ml. of 50% aqueous NaOH is refluxed for 22 hours. Ethanol is then removed under reduced pressure, water added followed by extraction with ether. The aqueous phase is adjusted to about pH 8 using aqueous HCl and 31 g. of S-benzyl-isothiouronium hydrochloride in water is added. The thus-formed salt is filtered, washed with water, recrystallized from aqueous methanol (twice) and then treated with aqueous HCl/ether and worked up to yield 11-methoxy-3,7,l1-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoic acid which crystallizes on cooling.

C. The acid (0.5 g.) of part B is methylated using diazomethane in ether, followed by chromatography on prep. TLC and distillation (short path) to prepare methyl 1 l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate [95.2% trans(2), trans(4)]. In the same way, using diazoethane is prepared ethyl l l-methoxy- 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate [95.2% trans(2), trans( 4)].

EXAMPLE 34 To 0.5 g. of the acid of Example 33 in ml. of henzene, under nitrogen, is added 0.055 g. of sodium hydride. After stirring at room temperature for 15 min utes, 0.17 ml. of oxalyl chloride is added followed by stirring for 2.5 hours. Then 2 ml. of isopropanol is added. After about 3 hours, the reaction is worked up by extraction with ether, washing with sodium bicarbonate and brine, drying over calcium sulfate and isolation to yield isopropyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate (about 91% trans, trans).

EXAMPLE 35 To 0.5 g. of the acid of Example 33 in 10 ml. of benzene, under nitrogen is added 0.17 ml. of oxalyl chloride which is stirred for about 45 minutes and then allowed to stand 2 hours. Two ml. of isopropanol is added. After 3 hours, ether is added and organic layer separated. The organic layer is washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate and brine, dried over calcium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield isopropyl l l-methoxy-3 ,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate (about 91% trans, trans) which can be purified by chromatography and distillation.

Using the foregoing precedure, each of 3- thiacyclohexanol, 2,2,2-trif1uoroethanol, t-butanol, 2- methoxyethanol, 2-methylthioethanol and s-butanol provides 3'-thiacyclohexyl 1 1-methoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 2',2,2-trifluoroethyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, tbutyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l 1 -trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate, 2-methoxyethyl l 1-methoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 2-methylthioethyl l lmethoxy-3.7.l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, and sbutyl 1 l-methoxy-3,7, 1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate. Each of the esters is primarily the trans(2), trans(4) isomer.

EXAMPLE 36 Sodium ethoxide (prepared from 0.2 g. of sodium and 12 ml. of ethanol) is slowly added to a mixture of 1.1 g. of 7-ethoxy-3,7-dimethyloctan-l-al, diethyl 3- ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylprop-2-enyl phosphonate and 50 ml. of dimethylformamide, with stirring, under nitrogen, at 0. The reaction is stirred for 1.5 hours after addition is complete and then worked up by extraction with ether to yield ethyl 11-ethoxy-3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, mostly trans( 2), trans(4), which can be further purified by chromatography and distillation.

EXAMPLE 37 To a mixture of 10 g. of 7-methoxy-3,7- dimethyloctan-l-al, 17 g. of diethyl 3-ethoxycarbonyl- 2-methylprop-2-enyl phosphonate (77% trans), and ml. of dimethylformamide, under nitrogen, 0, with stirring, is added sodium isopropanolate (prepared from 1.5 g. of sodium in 150 ml. of isopropanol). After addition is complete, the reaction is stirred for 18 hours at room temperature and then worked up by extraction with hexane to yield isopropyl 1 l-methoxy-3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate (mostly trans-2, trans- 4), which can be chromatographed and distilled for further purification.

EXAMPLE 38 A mixture of 5 g. of hydroxycitronellal (7-hydroxy- 3,7-dimethyloctan-l-al), 8.5 g. of di-isopropyl 3- ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylprop-2-enyl phosphonate, and 40 ml. of dimethylformamide. under nitrogen and cooled in an ice-bath, is stirred for 0.5 hour and then ground NaOH (1.165 g.) is added. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 3 hours and then hexane/water l/l) added. The organic layer is washed with water and brine, dried over calcium sulfate and concentrated. The concentrate is filtered through Florisil using hexane and hexane/ether. The filtrate is concentrated and then distilled to yield ethyl 1 l" hydroxy-3,7, 1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate (about 85% trans-2, trans-4). i l

The process of this example is repeated with the exception of using di-isopropyl 3-isopropoxyc arbonyl-2- methylprop-2-enyl phosphonate to prepare isopropyl l l-hydroxy-3 ,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, about 78% trans(2), trans(4) and 21%cis( 2), trans(4).

EXAMPLE 39 To 40 ml. of ice cold isopropanol is added 2.49 g. of acetyl chloride. The resulting solution is stirred at for min. and 1.0 g. of trans isopropyl 3,7,11- trimethyldodeca 2,4,l0-trienoate added. The solution is stirred for 1 hour at 0 and for 48 hours at Solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the concentrate taken up in hexane. The hexane solution is washed with water until the aqueous wash is neutral and then with brine. The solution is dried over calcium sulfate and solvent evaporated to yield trans isopropyl 1 1-ch1oro-3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 40 A. 100 Grams of 3,7dimethyloct-6-en-l-ol is dissolved in 150 ml. of pyridine and 100 ml. of acetic anhydride and left at room temperature for about 48 hours. Then the mixture is extracted with ether and the ethereal extracts washed with water, 10% aqueous HCl and brine to yield 1-acetoxy-3,7-dimethyloct-6-ene which is purified by distillation.

B. 150 Grams of mercuric acetate in 400 ml. of dry ethanol is added to 100 g. of l-acetoxy-3,7- dimethyloct-o-ene (citronellol acetate) in 200 ml. of dry ethanol cooled in an ice bath. The temperature is allowed to come to room temperature by standing overnight. Then the mixture is cooled to 0, 100 g. of potassium hydroxide in 1.5 l. of ethanol is added followed by addition of 10 g. of sodium borohydride in small portions. After about minutes at 0, water (100 ml.) is added and mixture left at room temperature for 2 hours. The mixture is filtered, filtrate concentrated and extracted with ether. The ethereal extract is washed, dried and evaporated to yield 7-ethoxy-3,7- dimethyloctan-l-ol which is purified by distillation or chromatography. 7 1

By using methanol in the foregoing process in place of ethanol, there is obtained 7-methoxy-3,7-dimethyloctan- 1 -ol.

C. A mixture of 1.9 of 7-ethoxy-3,7-dimethyloctan-1- 01 and 10 ml. of pyridine is added to a suspension of 8.0 g. of chromium trioxide in 100 ml. of pyridine with stirring under nitrogen. After about 4 hours at room temperature, the reaction is poured into saturated sodium bicarbonate and worked up with ether followed by washing with 2N NaOH, water, 10% HCI, Water and brine and evaporated under reduced pressure to dry.-

ness and then filtered with hexane to yield 7-ethoxy- 3,7-dimethyloctan-1al.

D. A mixture of 9.0 g. of, 7-ethoxy-3,7- dimethyloctan-1-al and 15 g. of triphenylphosphineacetylmethylene in 100 ml. of dry toluene, under nitrogen, is refluxed for 20 hours. Thereafter, the toluene is evaporated and pentane added to remove triphenylphosphine. After concentration the product is distilled to yield lO-ethoxy-o,10-dimethylundec-3-en- 2-one. The thus-prepared ketone is reacted with the carbanion of diethyl carbethoxymethylphosphonate using theprocedure of Example 1 or 9 to prepare ethyl- 1 l-ethoxy-3 ,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 41 XIV 3 ,6,7-trimethyloct-6-en- 1 -al 3,6,7-trimethy1non-6-en-1-al 2,5-dimethylhex-4-en- 1 -al 2,4,5-trimethyl-4-enl-al 3 ,5 ,6-trimethylhept-5-en-1-ali 2,5 ,6-trimethylhept-5-en- 1 -al 3,8-dimethy1non-7-en- 1 -al 3,9-dimethyldec-8-en- 1 -al isopropyl 3,7,10,1 1-tetramethyldodeca-2,4,10-

trienoate isopropyl 3,7, 10,1 1-tetramethyltrideca-2,4, l 0- trienoate isopropyl 3,6,9-trimethyldeca-2,4,8-trienoate isopropyl 3,6,8,9-tetramethyldeca-2,4,8-trienoate isopropyl 3,7,9, lO-tetramethylundeca-2,4,9-

trienoate isopropyl 3,6,9,10-tetramethylundeca-Z,4,9

trienoate isopropyl 3,7, 12-trimethyltrideca-2,4,1 1 -trienoate isopropyl 3,7,1 3-trimethyltetradeca-2,4, l 2-trienoate The reaction of the aldehydes under col. XIV with the carbanion of diethyl 3-methoxycarbonyl-2- methylprop-2-enylphosphonate yields the respective methyl tri-unsaturated esters. In the same way the respective ethyl triunsaturated esters are prepared using diethyl I 3-ethoxy-carbonyl-2-methylprop-Z- enylphosphonate.

Hydrochlorinated derivatives of the above esters are prepared using the procedure of Example 14 or 39. For example, isopropyl 1 l-chlor0-3,7, 10,1 l-tetramethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, isopropyl 11-ch1oro-3,7,10,l ltetramethyltrideca-Z,4-dienoate, isopropyl 10-ch1oro- 3,7,9,10-tetramethylundeca-2,4-dienoate, and isopropyl l2-chloro-3,7, 1 Z-trimethyltrideca-Z,4-dienoate.

Following the procedure of Example 23 or 29, methanol is added to the terminal double bond of each of the esters under col. XV to prepare:

isopropyl l 1-methoxy-3,7, 10, 1 l-tetramethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoate,

isopropyl 1 1-methoxy-3,7,10, 1 l-tetramethyltrideca- 2,4-dienoate,

I dienoate, and

isopropyl l3-methoxy-3 ,7, l 3-trimethyltetradeca-2,4-

dienoate.

In the same way, ethanol is added to the terminal double bond to prepare the respective ethoxy substituted 2,4-dienoates. Using the procedure of Example 20, water is added to the terminal double bond to prepare the respective hydroxy-substituted 2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 42 A. Eighty ml. of a 3M solution of methylmagnesium bromide in ether is added slowly to 31 g. of citronellal in 250 ml. of dry ether. The mixture is heated at reflux for about 1 hour, cooled to and treated with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride until reaction subsides. The organic layer is separated and the aqueous layer extracted with ether. The organic layer and ether extracts are combined, washed with water and brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent gives 4,8-dimethylnon-7-en-2-ol.

B. A solution of 47 g. of 4,8-dimethylnon-7-en-2-ol in 250 ml. of methylene chloride is cooled to about 10 as a solution of 46.4 g. of sodium dichromate in 125 ml. of water is added. The mixture is maintained at about 10 as a solution of 46.3 g, of sulfuric acid in 100 ml. of water is added over about 45 minutes. The mixture is allowed to attain room temperature and, after about 3 hours, the organic layer is separated and the aqueous layer is extractedwith methylene chloride. The combined organic materials are washed with saturated potassium bicarbonate, water and saturated sodium chloride, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated to yield 4,8-dimethylnon-7-en-2-one.

The Grignard reaction of part A is repeated using each 3,7-dimethylnon-6-en-l-al, 3-methyl-7-ethylnon- 6-en-1-a1, 3,6,7-trimethyloet-6-en- 1 -al, 3,7,8-trimethylnon-7-en-l-al, 2,4,5-trimethylhex-4-enl-al, 2,5-dimethylhex-4-en-l-al, 3,5,6-trimethylhept-5- en-l-al, 3,6-dimethylhept-5-en-l-al, 2,6-dimethylhept- S-en-l-al and 2,5,6-trimethylhept-5-en-l-al in place of citronellal to yield the respective secondary alcohol 4,8dimethyldec-7-en-2-ol 4-methyl-8-ethyldec-7-en-2-ol 4,7,8-trimethylnon-7-en-2-o1 4,8,9-trimethyldec-8-en-2-ol 3,5,6-trimethylhept-5-en-2ol 3,6-dimethylhept-5-en-2-ol 4,6,7-trimethyloct-6-en-2-ol 4,7-dimethyloct-6-en-2-ol 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-2-ol 3,6,7-trimethyloct-6en-2-ol Each of the above alcohols is oxidized to prepare the respective ketone 4,8-dimethyldec-7'en-2-one 4-methyl-8-ethyldec-7-en-2-one 4,7,8-trimethylnon-7-en-2-one 4,8,9-trimethyldec-8-en-2-one 3,5,6-trimethylhept-5-en-2-one 3,6-dimethylhept-5-en-2-one 4,6,7-trimethyloct-6-en-2-one 4,7-dimethyloct-6-en-2-one 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-2-one 3,6,7-trimethyloct-6-en-2-one C. Each of the ketones of part B is reacted with the carbanion of diethyl 3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylprop- 6g 2-enyl phosphonate according to procedures described above to prepare the respective tri-unsaturated ester ethyl 3,5,7,1 1-tetramethyldodeca-2,4, l O-trienoate ethyl ,7,1 l-tetramethyltrideca-2,4,10trienoate ethyl 3,5,6,8,9-pentamethyldeca-2,4,S-trienoate 10 ethyl 3,5,6,9-tetramethyldeca-2,4,8-trienoate ethyl 3,5,7,9, IO-pentamethyIundeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,5,7, 1 O-tetramethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,5,6, lO-tetramethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,5,6,9,lO-pentamethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate EXAMPLE 43 A. Each of the ketones of part B of Example 42 is reacted with the carbanion of diethyl 3-ethoxycarbonyl- 1,2-dimethylprop-2-enylphosphonate to prepare the respective trienoate i.e.

ethyl 3,4,5,7,l 1pentamethyldodeca-2,4, l 0- trienoate ethyl 3,4,5,7,1 1-pentamethyltrideca-2,4, lO-trienoate ethyl 3,4,5,7-tetramethyl-l l-ethyltrideca-2,4, l

trienoate ethyl trienoate ethyl trienoate ethyl 3,4,5,6,8,9-hexamethyldeca-2,4,8-trienoate ethyl 3,4,5,6,9-pentamethyldeca-2,4,8-trienoate ethyl 3,4,5,7,9,10-hexamethylundeca-Z,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,4,5 ,7,10-pentamethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,4,5,6,10-pentamethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3 ,4,5,6,9, l O-hexamethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate B. Each of the aldehydes under col. I is reacted with the carbanion of diethyl 3-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-dimethylprop-2-enyl phosphonate to prepare the respective trienoate, i.e.

ethyl 3,4,7, 1 1-tetramethyltrideca-2,4, 1 O-trienoate ethyl 3,4,1 l-trimethyl-7-ethyltrideca-Z,4,10-

trienoate ethyl trienoate ethyl 3,4,8,12-tetramethyltrideca-2,4,1 1 -trienoate ethyl 3 ,4,7 ,10-tetramethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3 ,4,7,10-tetramethyldodeca-2,4,9-trienoate ethyl 3,4,6,10-tetramethylundeca-2,4,9-trienoate By use of the procedure of part B of this example, other aldehydes of formula I (R is hydrogen are converted into the respective ester of formula B wherein R is hydrogen and R is methyl or other lower alkyl. Similarly following the procedure of part A of this ex- 55 ample, other ketones of formula I (R is lower alkyl) are converted into esters of formula B wherein each of R and R is lower alkyl Using the process of part C of Example 42 other esters of the present invention of formula B wherein R" is hydrogen and R is methyl or other lower alkyl can be prepared using a ketone of formula I (R is lower alkyl) as the precursor.

C. Each of the esters of this example and Example 42 can be hydrolyzed to the free acid according to the procedure of Example 3 or 33. The acid or acid chloride can be reacted with an alcohol such as isopropanol, t-

butanol, benzyl alcohol, and the like to prepare the other esters of the present invention.

3,4,5,7,10-1 1-hexamethyldodeca-2,4.10-

3 ,4,5,7,l l,l2-hexamethyltrideca-2,4,l l-

3,4-dimethyl-7,l l-diethyltrideca-2,4,10-

EXAMPLE, 44

Following the process of Example 35,1 l-methoxy- 3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid :is esterified using each of cyclohexanol, npropan:ol, i-butanoLbenzyl alcohol, phenol n-hexanol, 3,3.-dimethylpentan-lol, 2-methylpentan-l-ol, hexan- 2 -ol, 3-m ethylpentanl-ol, p-ethylphenol, B-phenylethanql, 2-fluoroethanol, 2,2-dichloroethanl, 2-chloropropan- 1 ol, 2,2,2- trichloroethanol and and p-methylthiophenol to prepare the respective ester.

cyclohexyl l lmethoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-ZA- dienoate n-propyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate i-butyl l l-methoxy-3 ,7 ,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate I benzyl l l-methoxy-3,7, 1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate phenyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

dienoate I n-hexyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-

EXAMPLE 45 To a solution of 0.5 g. of trans, trans ll-methoxy- 3,7,11trimethyldodeca-Z,4-dienoic acid in ml. of benzene is added, with stirring, an equivalent amount of potassium hydride. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 2 hours and then evaporated to give potassium ll-methoxy-3,7,ll-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoate.

In place of KH, there can be used KOH, NaOH, and the like to form the corresponding salt.

EXAMPLE 46 Methanol is added to the terminal bond of ethyl 3,4,- 7,1l-tetramethyldodeca2,4,=lO-trienoateusing the process of Example 23 or 29 to give ethyl l l-methoxy- 3,4,7,l ltetramethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate. In the samemanner, water is added to give ethyl l l.- hydr oxy-. 3,4,7,l 1tetramethyldodeca-Z,4-dienoate. Sit nilarly, there is prepared ethyl l l-methoxy-3,5,.7,'- l-l+ tetramethyldodeca-Z,4-dienoate and ethyl l l-hydroxyl l-methoXy-3 ,7,l l-trimethyl- 1 l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyll l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyll l-methoxy-3,7 ,l l-trimethyll l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyl- 3,5,7,1ltetramethyldodeca-Z,4-dienoate from ethyl 3,5,7,l l-tetramethyldodeca-2.,4,lO-trienoate. The hydrochloride, ethyl l l-chloro-3,4,7,l l-tetramethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate and ethyl l l-chloro-3,5,7,l ltetramethyldodeca-2,4'dienoate are prepared from the trienoate using the process of Example 39.

EXAMPLE 47 A. To a solution of 1.8 g. of 6,10-dimethylundeca- 3,9-dieri-2-one in 20 ml. of ethanol, cooled to 0 by an ice bath is added a suspension of 2.32 g. of mercuric acetate in 50 ml. of ethanol over 15 minutes. The reaction mixture is stirred for 2 hours and then, with cooling, to 20, 1.22 g. of potassium hydroxide in 20 ml. of ethanol is added. Then 0.139 g. of sodium borohydride is added in small portions and stirring continued for 30 minutes at 20. The solution is decanted, then concentrated to half volume, diluted with ml. of water and extracted with ether (3 X 50). The ethereal phase is washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate and the crude product chromatographed on silica to yield lO-ethoxy-6, lO-dimethylundec-3-en-2-one.

The process of this example is repeated using each of the compounds under column VI as the starting material to prepare the respective ethoxy substituted com pound under column XVI.

XVI

lO-ethoxy-6, l O-dimethyldod.ec3en-2-one lO-ethoxy-6-methyll O-ethylldodec-3-en-2-one lO ethoxy-6, l 0-diethyldodec-3en-2-one l l-ethoxy-7,l ldimethyldodec-3-en-2-one 9-ethoxy-6,9-dimethyldec-3-en-2-one 9-ethoxy-6,9-dimethylundec-3-en-2-one 9-ethoxy-5,9'dimethyldec3en-2-one Following the process of Example 13, lO-ethoxy- 6,10-dimethylundec-3-en-2-one is converted into methyl 1 l-ethoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate. Reaction of l0ethoxy-6, lO-dimethylundec- 3-en-2-one with the carbanion of diethyl carboethoxymethylphosphonate yields ethyl l lethoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-clienoate.

By using other alcohols in the process of this example in lieu of ethanol, such as methanol, etc., the respective ethers are obtained, e.g. lOmethoxy-6,lO-dimethylundec-3-en-2 one.

B. The process of part A is repeated using the starting material 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en--al and each of the aldehydes under column I or the acetal thereof to prepare the respective compounds under column XVII.

XVII

7-ethoxy-3 ,7-dimethyloctan- 1 al 7-ethoxy-3 ,7-dimethylnonanl-al 7-ethoxy-3-ethyl 7-methylnolnan l-al 7-ethoxy-3,7-diethylnonan- 1 al 8-ethoxy-4,8-dimethylnonan- 1 'al 6-ethoxy-3 .6-dimethylheptan 1 al 6.-ethoxy-3 ,6-dimethyl0ctan- 1 al o-ethoxy-2,-dimethylheptan- 1 al Using 7-ethoxy-3,7-dimethyloctanl-al as the starting material in the process of either Example 9, 10 or 1 1, there is prepared IO-ethoxy-6,l0-dimethylundec-3-en- 2-one.

EXAMPLE 48 A mixture of 0.6 g. of l l-methoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca 2,4-dienoic acid (mostly trans, trans),

ml. of dry benzene and 0.21 ml. of oxalyl chloride is allowed to stand at room temperature with occasional stirring for about 2.5 hours. The mixture is cooled in cold water and then 0.18 ml. of ethylmercaptan added. The reaction is stirred and 10 drops of dry pyridine added. The reaction is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and then worked up by addition of ether and saturated sodium bicarbonate, washing of organic phase and removal of solvent to yield crude ethyl l l-methoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyl-thioldodeca-2,4-dienoate (mostly trans, trans) which is separated by preparative thin-layer chromatography.

EXAMPLE 49 To 0.55 g. of l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoic acid in 10 ml. of dry benzene is added 0.21 ml. of oxalyl chloride. The mixture is stirred occasionally at room temperature for about 2.5 hours. The mixture is cooled in cold water and then 0.18 ml. of ethylmercaptan is added with stirring. The mixture is then stirred at room temperature for about 24 hours. Ether and saturated bicarbonate is added and the organic phase separated. The organic phase is washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate, saturated sodium chloride, dried over calcium sulfate and evaporated to yield ethyl 1 l-methoxy-3 ,7,l l-trimethy]-thioldodeca-2,4 dienoate.

Thiol esters are prepared using each of n-propyl mercaptan isopropyl mercaptan, isobutyl mercaptan, sbutyl mercaptan, n-butyl mercaptan, benzyl mercaptan, cyclopentyl mercaptan, B-phenylethyl mercaptan, t-amyl mercaptan and n-hexyl mercaptan in reaction with 1 1-methoxy-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoyl chloride or the sodium salt of l 1-methoxy-3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid to yield n-propyl -1 l-methoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyl-thioldodeca- 2,4-dienoate isopropyl l 1-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyl-thioldodeca- 2,4-dienoate isobutyl 1 l-methoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyl-thioldodeca- 2,4-dienoate s-butyl 1 l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyl-thioldodeca 2,4-dienoate n-butyl l l-methoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyl-thioldodeca- 2,4-dienoate benzyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyl-thioldodeca- 2,4-dienoate cyclopentyl l l-methoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyl-thioldodeca-2,4-dienoate ,B-phenylethyl l l-methoxy-3 ,7 ,1 1 -trimethylthioldodeca-2,4-dienoate t-amyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l 1-trimethylthioldodeca-2,4-

dienoate n-hexyl 1 l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethylthioldodeca- 2,4-dienoate.

Thiol acids of the present invention are prepared by the reaction of hydrogen sulfide with an acid chloride of formula A or B. For example, a solution of 11- methoxy-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoyl chloride in benzene is added to benzene saturated with hydrogen sulfide and the mixture allowed to stand for about 2 hours with continuous introduction of nitrogen. The reaction is worked up as described above to yield 1 lmethoxy-3,7,l l-trimethylthioldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid. Thiol acids serve as precursors for the preparation of other thiol esters of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 50 To a solution of 25.4 g. of 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca- 2.4,lO-trienoyl chloride in ether is added 12.4 g. of 5 ethylmercaptan and 11.6 g. of pyridine at 40. The mixture is allowed to stand at 0 for about 3 hours and then is diluted with ether and water and separated. The ether phase is washed with dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide, dilute hydrochloric acid and then water, dried and solvent removed to yield ethyl 3,7,1 l-trimethylthioldodeca-2,4, IO-trienoate.

The process of this example or Example 49 is repeated using each of the acid chlorides under column XVIII to prepare the respective thiol ester under column XIX.

XVIII 3,7,1 l-trimethyltrideca-2,4,10trienoyl chloride 3 ,1 ldimethyl-7-ethyltrideca-2,4, lO-trienoyl ride 7,1 1-diethyl-3-methyltrideca-2,4, l O-trienoyl ride 3,7, l O-trimethylundeca-Z,4,9-trienoy1 chloride 3,7,1()-trimethyldodeca-2,4,9-trienoyl chloride 3,6,10-trimethylundeca-Z,4,9-trienoyl chloride 3,7, 10,1 1-tetramethyldodeca-2,4, IO-trienoyl ride 3,5,7,1 l-tetramethyldodeca-2,4, lO-trienoyl chloride 3,4,7,1 l-tetramethyIdodeca-2,4, IO-trienoyl chloride 3,5 ,7, 10,1 l-pentamethyldodeca-2,4, l O-trienoyl chloride chlochlochlo- XIX 7,1 l-diethyl-3-methyl-thioltrideca-2,4,10-

3,5,7,1 1-tetramethyl-thioldodeca-2,4,l0-

3,4,7, 1 l-tetramethyl-thioldodeca-2,4,10-

EXAMPLE 5 l A mixture of 3.0 g. of sodium acetate and 20 ml. of acetic anhydride is stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour. To the mixture is added 2.7 g. of isopropyl llhydroxy-3 ,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate. The mixture is warmed up to 100 and left overnight (about 17 hours). After cooling, the mixture is poured into sat. sodium bicarbonate and extracted with ether. The combined ether extracts are washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate, water and sat. sodium chloride solution,-dried over calcium sulfate and concentrated to give crude isopropyl l 1-acetoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate which is filtered through Florisil using ethyl acetate/hexane and then distilled for purification.

By using ethyl l l-hydroxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoate in the above procedure, there is prepared ethyl 1 1-acetoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 52 To a solution of 2.0 g. of ethyl 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4,l0-trienoate in 30 ml. of ethanol, cooled in an ice bath, is slowly added 5.24 g. of acetyl chloride. The reaction mixture is allowed to rise to room temperature and stirred for about 60 hours. The mixture is concentrated under reduced pressure and the concen trate poured into water/hexane. The organic layer is separated, washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate, water and brine, dried over calcium sulfate and solvent removed to yield ethyl 1 1-chloro-3,7,1 1-trimethyl-. dodeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 53 To an ice cold solution of 2.0 g. of isopropyl 3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4,lO-trienoate in 80 ml. of isopropanol is added 2.29 g. of mercuric acetate over about minutes. The mixture is stirred at ice temperature for 3 hours and then at room temperature for about 17 hours. A solution of 1.21 g. of potassium hydroxide, 5 ml. of water and ml. of isopropanol is then added to the mixture cooled in an ice bath. Then 0.126 g. of sodium borohydride is added in small portions and stir ring continuted for 1 hour. The mixture is then stirred with Celite and mercury filtered off. The filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure, diluted with water and extracted with ether. The combined ether extracts are washed with water and brine, dried over calcium sulfate and solvent removed to give isopropyl l 1- isopropoxy-3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate which can be purified by chromatography or distillation.

EXAMPLE 54 To a solution of 40 g. of 7-hydroxy-3,7- dimethyloctan-l-al in 100 ml. of dimethylformamide, cooled to 0 and under nitrogen, is added 71.2 g. of di isopropyl phosphonate in 100 ml. of dimethylformamide through a dropping funnel. The mixture is stirred at 0 for 0.5 hour and then 9.3 g. of ground sodium hydroxide is added. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 3 hours and then poured into hexane/ water (1:1). The aqueous layer is extracted with hex ane. The hexane extract is combined with the organic layer which is washed with water and brine, dried over calcium sulfate and solvent removed to yield isopropyl 1 1-hydroxy-3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-Z,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 55 Using the procedure of Example 35, each of hexal-ol, prop-Z-yn-l-ol and 4-methylpent-2-yn-l-ol is re acted with the acid chloride of trans, trans l 1-methoxy- 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4dienoic acid to prepare the respective trans, trans ester, that is hexa-2,4 -dienyl l l-methoxy-3 ,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate,

prop-2'-enyl 1 1-methoxy3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate, but-2 -en yll l-methoxy-3 ,7,l l-trimethyldodeca2,4-dienoate, but-2-yn-1 '-yl l l-methoxy- 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, prop-2-yn-1 -yl 3-isopropoxycarbonyl-2-methylprop-2-enyl 1 l-methoxy-3 ,7, 1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, and 4-methylpent-2-yn- 1 -y1 1 l-methoxy-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.

EXAMPLE 56 Following the procedure of Example 35, each of sec-butyl alcohol and sec. -butyl alcohol is reacted with the acid chloride of trans, trans ll-methoxy- 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid to prepare sec. -butyl 11-methoxy-3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca- 2(trans), 4(trans)-dienoate and sec. butyl llmethoxy 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2(trans), 4(trans)- dienoate.

Each of penta-2,3'-dienyl ll-methoxy-3,7,1 1- trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, pent-2 '-yn-1 '-l lmethoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate and but3 '-en-1 -yl 1 1-methoxy-3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoate is prepared using penta-2,3-dien-1-ol, pent-Z-yn-l-ol and but-3-en-1-ol in the process of Example 35 in place of isopropanol.

EXAMPLE 57 To a solution of 4.15 g. of l 1-methoxy-3,7,1 l-trime thyldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid in ml. of dry benzene, under nitrogen, is added 5.1 m1. of oxalyl chloride. After 2 hours, solvent is removed under reduced pressure and 100 ml. of fresh dry benzene and 6.4 ml. of dry isobutyl alcohol is added. The reaction mixture is concentrated and the concentrate is stirred over 20 g. of activated alumina in pentane for 0.5 hr. and filtered. The filtrate is washed, dried and evaporated under reduced pressure to give isobutyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate which can be purified by distillation.

EXAMPLE 58 To 1.1 equivalents of acetic formic anhydride is added 2 g. of isopropyl ll-hydroxy-3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate dropwise, with stirring in an ice bath. The reaction is kept at room temperature for about 96 hours. The reaction is poured into excess so dium carbonate solution and extracted with ether. Organic layer is washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over calcium sulfate and solvent re moved to give crude product (the 1 l-formate of isopropyl 1 1-hydroxy-3,7,l 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate) which is purified by thin layer chromatography eluting with 20% ethyl acetate in hexane followed by distillation.

EXAMPLE 59 To 4 g. of 2,6-dimethylhept-5-en-l-ol in 15 ml. of dry pyridine is added 5.75 g. of acetic anhydride dropwise. The reaction is stirred for 7 hours and then cooled in an ice-water bath, 7 drops of water added and stirred for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is poured into water and extracted with ether. The organic layer is washed with water, dilute HCl, water, sodium bicarbonate and saturated NaCl solution, dried over calcium sulfate and then distilled to give 1-acetoxy-2,6-dimethylhept- 5-ene.

Two grams of the above acetate is dissolved in 100 m1. of ethanol and then 3.38 g. of mercuric acetate added under nitrogen and at (1. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. After cooling in an ice bath, 1.83 g. of potassium hydroxide in 20 ml. of ethanol is added. Then 0.206 g. of sodium b0rohydride is added in small portions at The reaction is left at 0 for 1 hour and then 2 ml. of water added followed by stirring at room temperature for 1.5 hours. The mixture is stirred with Celite for 15 minutes and filtered. The solvent is removed from the filtrate and the residue diluted with 100 ml. of water and extracted with ether. The organic phase is washed with water and brine, dried and solvent evaporated. The residue is filtered through silica column, eluting with ether/hexane (l/l) to give 6-ethoxy-2,6-dimethylheptanl-ol.

To a solution of 3.19 g. of chromium trioxide, 5.04 g. of pyridine and 40 ml. of methylene chloride is added 0.9 g. of 6-ethoxy-2,6-dimethylheptan-1-ol in 10 ml. of I methylene chloride. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for minutes. The solution is decanted from the residue which is washed with methylene chloride. The combined solution is filtered through alumina (III), concentrated in vacuo, diluted with ether and washed with dilute sodium bicarbonate and sat. brine and dried over calcium sulfate to give 6- ethoxy-2 ,6-dimethylheptanl-al.

To an ice cold solution of one gram of 6-ethoxy-2,6- dimethylheptan-l-al in 10 ml. of dimethylformamide, flushed with nitrogen, is added 1.65 g. of diisopropyl 3-ethoxycarbonyl-Z-methylprop-2-enylphosphonate in 10 ml. of dimethylformamide. After stirring for 0.5 hour. ground sodium hydroxide (0.215 g) is added and the reaction mixture left at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture is poured into hexane/water l/l The aqueous layer is extracted with hexane. The combined organic layers are washed with water and brine, dried over calcium sulfate and solvent removed to give crude ethyl l0-ethoxy-3,6,l0- trimethylundeca-2,4-dienoate which is diluted with ether and thin layer chromatographed eluting with ether/hexane l/S) followed by distillation for purification (about 80% trans-2, trans-4).

EXAMPLE 60 A mixture of l1-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoic acid (0.2 g.), 2.5 ml. of oxalyl chloride and 15 ml. of dry benzene, under nitrogen, is allowed to stand, with occasional stirring, for 2 hours. Then, solvent is removed under reduced pressure and ml. of fresh dry benzene added. 3.8 ml. of sec.-butanol is added and the reaction mixture stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. The mixture is evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue distilled to give sec. butyl 1 l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate.

Three groups of each of Aedes aegypti, fourth instar larvae, in 50 ml. of tap water containing a few drops of liver powder suspension, room temperature of 28 and photoperiod of 18 hours, are treated with ethyl l l-methoxy-3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate (about 58% trans, trans) using 50 microliters of acetone as the carrier at three different dosage levels. A fourth group is maintained under identical conditions. Each group is scored after 7 days by the following system: 0 normal adult, completely emerged (free or floating); l abnormal adult, non-viable; 2 com pletely emerged adult; 3 dead pupa; and 4 dead larvae. For each group the total number of animals in classes 14 is divided by 30 to determine the percentage result. The ID is computed by plotting on semilogarithmic paper, the dose on the horizontal axis and the percentage response on the vertical axis. The 1D,,

was determined to be less than 1.0 ppm. Each of the larvae of the control group developed into normal adults. Each of the compounds, methyl ll-methoxy- 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate (78% trans, trans), ethyl 1l-hydroxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate trans, trans), t-butyl ll-methoxy- 3,7, l 1*trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 2 -methoxyethyl l l-methoxy-3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 3 thiacyclohexyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoate and 2-methylthioethyl ll-methoxy- 3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate were tested in the same way and found to have an ID of less than 1.0

Three groups of 20 each of Tenebrio molitor pupae (less than 24 hours old) maintained on wheat germ and bran, 25 room temperature, 18 hours light, are treated at 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 ,ug. with isopropyl llmethoxy3 ,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate (predominantly all trans) using acetone carrier. The active agent is placed on the 5th abdominal sternite using a syringe. The ID Was less than 0.1 g.

Concentrate suitable for field application, with or without dilution depending upon spraying apparatus, can be formulated as follows (percentage by weight).

isopropyl 1 l-methoxy-3 .7,l 1-

trimcthyldodcca-Z,4-dicnoatc (56% trans, trans) 50% Emcol N-l40B 12'71 Emcol T-l80 2'72 Xylene 367! 4 Emcol N-l40B, a blend of polyoxyethylene ethers and oil-soluble sulfonates, and Emcol T-180, are trade names for surfactants of Witco Chemical New York, New York.

The above concentrate can be applied without dilution using ultra-low volume sprayers or can be diluted with, for example, water before application. Dilution containing the active component within the range of about 0.0001 to 10% are generally employed. A dilution of the above concentrate with water to provide 1.0% of the active component, when applied to locals infested with immature peach aphids, provides effective control.

A fine dust is prepared of 10 parts of isopropyl 1 1- methoxy-3,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate and parts synthetic fine silica, by weight, by blending in a Waring Blender. The fine dust is particularly useful forapplication to broadleaf plants for the control of cabbage looper, turnip aphids and squash and vine borer.

Isopropyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate (56% trans, trans) is put neat on wheat to provide a concentration of 5 ppm and super-blended. The treated wheat is placed in a large glass container and 20 viable adult Indian-meal moths (Plodia interpunctella) introduced. The same quantity of untreated wheat is placed in a large glass container and 20 viable adult indian-meal moths introduced. The two groups are maintained under identical conditions for 8 weeks. In the case of the treated grain, the 20 adults survived and the grain contained a few larvae and non-viable pupa, the larvae were not active and instead existed in diapause or pre-pupal-like-state indicates essentially complete control for protection of the grain. The untreated grain (control) all adults survived and the grain was infested with hundreds of active larvae. The same treatment was made of other stored grain pests,, i.e;, Merchant grain beetle (Onyzaephilus mercator), Almond moth (Cadra cautellayand Sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surl'rzqmenSis) and provided essentially complete control by inhibiting adult emergence.

In some applications of the compounds of the present invention, it is advantageous. to formulate the-active compound of formula A,-such as anester of formula A with a polymeric material or a combination of polymer, filler, plasticizer and stabilizers. Thus, in the use of, e.g., an ester of formula A blended with a polymer, such as polyvinyl chlo ride, and copolymers of polyvinyl chloride or ethylenepropylenediene terpolymers as described in US. Pat. No. 3,590,119 to extend the life and effectiveness for control of mosquito larvae. The density of blended or encapsulated material can be gauged so as to make it available at the most optimum water level. Polymeric blends and encapsulation of the active compounds of the present invention can be'usefully applied to provide effective control of insects which harbor in the surface or under the surface of the soil as immature insects. Suitable polymers, blending techniques and encapsulation methods are described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,777,824; 3,055,297; 3,318,769; 3,393,990; 3,449,962; 3,551,556; 3,565,818; 3,565,559; 3,565,819 and 3,577,515.

Although not intending to be limited by a theoretical explanation, the effectiveness of the compounds of the present invention to control insects is attributed to the property of these novel compounds to mimic the activity of juvenile hormone as demonstrated herein. While the methods of applying and carriers for conventional insecticides are usually adaptable to the practical use of the compounds of the present invention, the mechanism of action of these novel compounds is unlike that of conventional insecticides. Whereas conventional insecticides are dependent upon direct knock-down effect, toxity effect or paralyzing effect, the compounds of this invention achieve control by reason of their ability to inhibit metamorphosis, inhibit reproduction due to abnormal development, break diapause at an unfa vorable time, or act as a direct insecticide, particularly at the embryo stage and larvae stage. Treatment of insects in accordance with the present invention can be achieved via ingestion of the active compound in the normal food of the insect and by topical application, that is by contact of the epidermis of the insect as by spraying the insect and habitat of the insect or exposure to vapors of the active compound which penetrate into the insect.

The compounds of the present invention can be used in conjunction with other juvenile hormone active substances and conventional insecticides to obtain a broad spectrum of-activity or to provide more immediate ef feet on very heterogeneous populations. Typical insecticides which may be combined with the compounds of the present invention are Malathion, Sevin, Vapona,

Abate, synthetic and natural pyrethrins, and the like,

and usually within the ratio of between to 1:10, by

weight. I

The following is an example of a granule formulation;-

in accordance with the present invention:'

Attaclay -30 Propylene glycol Compound A E i Attaclay 15-30 is an attapulgus clay product of Minerals & Chemicals Philipp Corporation.

The following is an example of a water-dispersable powder formulation in accordance with the present invention:

Hi Sil 233 73.5% Igcpon-T-77 1.071 Dcfoamer 05% Compound A 25.07:

Hi Sil is a trademark of PPGIndustries. lgepon T-77 is an anionic wetting agent of GAF Corporation. Defoamer is soap flakes but other defoamers can be used.

The following is an example of an emulsive formulation in accordance with the present invention:

Solvent 14% Atlox 3403F l7! Atlox 3404F 371 82% Compound A Solvent is xylene although other solvents can be used. Atlox is a trademark of Atlas Chemical Industries, Inc. the emulsive is diluted in water and applied. A deactivator, such as a tertiary amine, can be added to above formulation, usually in the amount of about 1% depending on shelf-life desired.

An example of a concentrate which can be applied without dilution using ultra-low volume sprayer is the following:

Solvent Compound A (XVII) (XVI) An aldehyde of formula XVIII is prepared by the acid-catalyzed reaction of an ally] alcohol of formula XVI with an aldehyde enol ether of formula XVII. Suitable procedures are described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,453,317; 3,549,714; 3,493,619 and 3,493,621, which are incorporated by reference.

The reaction of an aldehyde of formula XVIII with the ylid (Ph is phenyl) Ph,,P=CI-IO-CI-I;, affords an aldehyde of formula I where m is one. The reaction can be done as follows: To a suspension of 21 grams of methoxymethyltriphenylphosphonium chloride in 200 ml. of absolute ether is added under nitrogen at room temperature a solution of 60 mmoles of phenyl lithium in ether. After about minutes, the mixture is cooled to 30 and 6 grams of 2,5-dimethylhex-4-en-l-al in ether is added slowly. After about hours at room temperature, the mixture is filtered and the filtrate evaporated to yield the methoxymethylene of 2,5-dimethylhex-4-en-l-al which is dissolved in aqueous tetrahydrofuran containing a small amount of dilute hydrochloric acid and stirred to yield 3,6-dimethylhept-S-en-l-al. By repeating the ylid reaction on the thus-obtained aldehyde (3,6-dimethylhept-5-en-l-al), an aldehyde of formula I wherein m is 2, is prepared and by again repeating the above ylid reaction, I wherein m is 3 is prepared.

Aldehydes of formula I wherein n is two or three, can be prepared as follows:

(XIX) In the practice of the above process, a ketone of formula XI, such as dimethylketone, diethylketone or methylethylketone, is reacted with a Wittig reagent of the formula 1) is phenyl):

in an organic solvent, such as dimethylsulfoxide, or the like, to form the ethylene ketal of a compound of formula XII, which is hydrolyzed by treatment with acid to the ketone (XII). The'ketone (XII) is then reacted with the ylid of methoxymethyltriphenylphosphonium chloride in ether using butyl lithium or phenyl lithium followed by mild acid hydrolysis as described above to yield an aldehyde of formula XIX. An aldehyde of formula XIX is then reacted as before to prepare aldehydes of formula I wherein m is one, two or three. The following experimental illustrates conditions for preparation of the ketones of formula XII.

To a solution of 20.9 g. of the ethylene ketal of l-bromo-4-pentanone (obtained by treating l-bromo- 4-pentanone with ethylene glycol in benzene in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid) in 100 ml. of benzene is added 20 g. of triphenylphosphine. The mixture is heated at reflux temperature for 2 hours and then filtered. The solid material thus-collected is washed with benzene, dried in vacuo and added 6.49 g. of butyl lithium in ml. of dimethylsulfoxide. The mixture is stirred until an organic solution is obtained and 3.8 g. of methylethylketone is then added. The mixture is stirred at about 25 for about 8 hours, poured into water and then extracted with ether. The ethereal extracts are concentrated and the concentrate added to 0.1N solution of hydrochloric acid in aqueous acetone and stirred for about 15 hours. The mixture is then poured into ice water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts are combined washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to yield 6-methyl- 5-octcn-2-one, which is purified by chromatography and separated into the cis and trans isomer.

The above process is repeated with the exception of using an equivalent amount of the ethylene ketal of I each of l-bromo-4-hexanone, l-bromo-3-butanone, l-bromo-S-hexanone and l-bromo-6-heptanone in place of the ethylene ketal of l-bromo-4-pentanone to yield 7-methylnon-6-en-3-one, 5-methylhept-4-en- 2-one, 7-methylnon-6-en-2-one and 8-methyldec-7-en- 2-one, respectively. I

By use of the above process, acetone is reacted with the phosphonium ylid prepared from the ethylene ketal of each of l-bromo-4-pentanone, l-bromo-4- hexanone, I-bromo-3-butanone, l-bromo-S-hexanone and 1-bromo-6-heptanone to yield 6-methylpent-5-en- 2-one, 7-methyloct-6-en-3-one, 5-methylhex-4-en- 2-one, 7-methyloct-6-en-2-one and 8-methylnon-7-en- 2-one, respectively.

By using diethyl ketone in place of methylethyl ketone in the above process, there is prepared 6-ethyl5- octen-2-one (XII; R is methyl; R is hydrogen; each of R and R is ethyl; and n is two).

Each of the compounds, isopropyl l 1-chloro-3,7,l 1-

trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, ethyl l l-acetoxy- 3,7,1 l-trimethyldodeca'2,4-dienoate, and isopropyl l l-acetoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate was tested on Aedes aegypti using the method described above and found to have an ID of less than 1.0 ppm.

EXAMPLE 6l Following the process of Example 35, each of 5-methyl2-thenyl alcohol, 4,5-dichloro-2-thenyl alcohol, 4,5-dimethyl-2-thenyl alcohol and 2,5- dimethylthenyl alcohol is reacted with ll-methoxy- 3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoyl chloride to prepare 5-methyl-2'-thenyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate 4,5dichloro-2'-thenyl l lr'nethoxy-3 ,7,1 1-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 4,5 dimethyl 2-thenyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, and 2,5'-dimethyl-2'-thenyl 'l lmethoxy-3 ,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, respectively.

. EXAMPLE 62 A. To 3.0 g. of l l-methoxy-3,7,1l-trimethyldodeca- 2,4-dienoic acid in 50 ml. of dry benzene, stirring under nitrogen, is added 4 ml. (6 g., 4 equivalents) of oxalyl chloride. The reaction mixture is allowed to stir for 2 hours at room temperature under nitrogen. Solvent is then removed under reduced pressure (30 water bath) to obtain 1 l-methoxy-3,7, l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoyl chloride.

B. To the thus-prepared acid chloride is added 30 ml. of fresh dry benzene and 4.3 g. (4 equivalents) of 3-methylbutan-l-ol (isopentyl alcohol) under nitrogen. The resulting mixture is stirred at room temperature under nitrogen for 24 hours. The reaction is worked up by pouring into water and extracting with ether. The organic layer is washed with water and brine, dried over calcium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure to yield isopentyl l l-methoxy -3,7,l I- trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, which can be purified by distillation or chromatography.

EXAMPLE 63 l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyl-dodeca-2,4-

cyclopropyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyl-dodeca 2,4-dienoate, and cyclopentyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l -trimethyl-dodeca- 2,4-dienoate.

By use of an atomizing device, two seedling pea plants 9 to 11 days of age are sprayed until runoff is imminent. Approximately ml. of spray solution are dispensed during this operation. The said spray solution is prepared by adding 1.0 ml. of an acetone solution which contains an appropriate, predetermined amount of a compound of the present invention, to 9.0 ml. of

' an aqueous 0.01% emulsion of the surfactant Tween (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate). A pair of pea plants is also sprayed with a l to 9 preparation of acetone in 0.01% Tween 20 to serve as spray diluent controls. The aqueous sprays on the plants are allowed to dry. Individual plants are then infested with 10 third instar larvae of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) which are 72 to 96 hours of age from time of birth. The aphids are then encaged by placing a disposable paperboard cylinder over the pot in which each sprayed and infested pea plant is maintained. The cylinder is closed at the top with fine mesh nylon screen to retain aphids which leave the plant. Encaged plant units are transferred to an environmental greenhouse maintained under constant conditions (25C, 50% relative humidity, 16 hours light per day) and held therein for a period of 6 days. During this time, the said substrate of each pea plant is watered as may be necessary. At the end of this holding period, the aphids on each plant are scored using the following system: 0 a normal aphid. l a moderately affected aphid which exhibits characters intermediate between those of the normal adult and the fourth instar larva, and 2 a strongly affected aphid which exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: evidence of an extralarval instar(s), inhibited reproduction, genital pore sclerotized and cauda more larval than adult in shape. For each plant, the sum of the two products of the number of individuals in each category times the category score is divided by 20 (maximum score) to obtain the percent response. The result from the duplicate assays are averaged to obtain the percent response for the particular dose level applied. Two or more dose levels (stated as percent concentration) are applied for each experimental compound. The IC level for each experimental compound is then determined from a semilogarithmic plot of percent response versus the logarithm of the percent concentration. For ethyl l lmethoxy-3 ,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate; allyl l l-methoxy-3,7,l l-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate; propargyl l l-methoxy-3 ,7 ,1 l-trimethyldodeca-2,4- dienoate and cycloprop yl l 1-methoxy-3,7,l ltrimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, 1C value of less than 0.0025% was obtained for each compound. Controls exhibited negligible (2% or less) response throughout the similar series of assays.

What is claimed is:

l. A compound selected from those of the formula:

wherein,

each of m and n is zero or the positive integer one,

two or three;

Z is bromo, chloro, fluoro or the group OR in which R is hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms or hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl of one to three carbon atoms;

each of R and R is methyl or ethyl;

R is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;

R" is lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms;

each of R, R" and R is hydrogen or methyl; and

R is hydrogen, lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, lower alkenyl of two to six carbon atoms, lower alkynyl of three to six carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of three to eight carbon atoms, aryl of six to 12 carbon atoms, aralkyl of seven to 12 carbon atoms or a metal cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, copper, manganese and zinc.

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein m is one; n is zero or one; Z is chloro or the group OR; 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THOSE OF THE FORMULA:
 2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein m is one; n is zero or one; Z is chloro or the group -OR; R1 is methyl; and each of R3 and R4 is methyl or ethyl; and R7 is lower alkyl of one to six carbon atoms.
 3. A compound according to claim 2 wherein each of R12 and R13 is hydrogen; each of R2, R3 and R14 is methyl; n is one; and R7 is lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms.
 4. A compound according to claim 2 wherein each of R12, R13 and R14 is hydrogen.
 5. A compound according to claim 4 wherein each of R2 and R3 is methyl and n is one.
 6. A compound according to claim 5 wherein Z is chloro; R7 is lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, said compound having trans(2),trans(4) or cis(2),trans(4) configuration.
 7. A compound according to claim 4 wherein Z is the group -OR in which R is hydrogen or lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms; R7 is lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms; and n is one.
 8. A compound according to claim 7 wherein each of R2 and R3 is methyl, said compound having trans(2),trans(4) or cis(2),trans(4) configuration.
 9. A compound according to claim 1 wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is methyl or ethyl; each of R12, R13 and R14 is hydrogen or methyl; m is one; n is one; and Z is chloro or the group -OR.
 10. A compound according to claim 9 wherein R1 is methyl; R7 is lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms; Z is chloro or the group -OR in which R is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl or acetyl; and each of R12 and R13 is hydrogen.
 11. A compound according to claim 10 wherein R14 is hydrogen and each of R2, R3 and R4 is methyl.
 12. A compound according to claim 1 wherein each of R12, R13 and R14 is hydrogen; each of R1 and R3 is methyl; each of R2 and R4 is ethyl; m is one; n is one; R7 is lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms; and Z is chloro or the group -OR in which R is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl or acetyl.
 13. The compound, 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid.
 14. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound of claim
 13. 15. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound, methyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoatE, according to claim
 8. 16. The compound, ethyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.
 17. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound of claim
 16. 18. The compound, isopropyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2, 4-dienoate.
 19. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound of claim
 18. 20. The compound, n-propyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2, 4-dienoate, according to claim
 8. 21. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound, t-butyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, according to claim
 8. 22. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound, s-butyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, according to claim
 8. 23. The compound, i-butyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, according to claim
 8. 24. The compound, ethyl 11-hydroxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.
 25. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound of claim
 24. 26. The compound, isopropyl 11-hydroxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2, 4-dienoate.
 27. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound of claim
 26. 28. The compound, ethyl 11-ethoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.
 29. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound of claim
 28. 30. The compound, 11-ethoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoic acid.
 31. The trans(2),trans(4) isomer of the compound of claim
 30. 32. The compound, ethyl 11-isopropoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2, 4-dienoate.
 33. The compound, isopropyl 11-isopropoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.
 34. The compound, cyclopropyl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.
 35. The compound, prop-2''-yn-1''-yl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate.
 36. The compound, prop-2''-en-1''-yl 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate. 